Why Does My Phone Say 5G But Won't Connect? Simple Fixes Inside

You see the 5G icon appear on your phone and expect lightning-fast downloads and smooth streaming. Instead, your internet feels sluggish, leaving you frustrated and wondering: "Why does my phone say 5G if it's not working properly?"

The truth is, the 5G symbol doesn't always guarantee the supercharged speeds you see in adverts. This guide explains why this happens and provides step-by-step solutions to get your 5G connection working at its best. Read on to learn more!

Why Does My Phone Say 5G but not Connect to It?

It's a common frustration: your phone shows a 5G icon, but the speed just doesn't match. Don't worry—your phone's probably fine. It usually comes down to how 5G works behind the scenes. Here are the four main reasons:

You Have a Weak Signal

The biggest factor is signal strength and type. Think of it like a radio station. When you're far from the tower, you can still hear the music, but it's fuzzy and cuts out. Your phone can often "hear" a 5G signal enough to show the icon, but it's too weak for fast speeds. This is a primary reason why your phone is not showing 5G consistently.

Furthermore, there are different "flavours" of 5G. The icon on your phone doesn't tell you which one you're connected to.

● Low-Band 5G: This is the most widespread type. It travels far and is great at penetrating walls, but its speeds are often only slightly faster than a good 4G signal. You might have this and not even notice a difference.

● Mid-Band 5G: This is the sweet spot. It offers a fantastic boost in speed over 4G and still has decent range. This is likely the 5G you were hoping for.

● High-Band (mmWave) 5G: This is the ultra-fast 5G you see in commercials, with gigabit speeds. However, its signal is very fragile. It can't pass through walls, trees, or even your own hand very well. You practically need to be in direct line of sight of the tower.

So, you could be connected to a distant Low-Band 5G tower, giving you the icon but 4G-like speeds.

The Network is Crowded

A mobile network is a shared resource, like a motorway. At 3 AM, you can fly down it. But at 5 PM on a Friday, it's a traffic jam. The same thing happens with 5G. If you're at a concert, a football match, or in a busy city centre during lunch, thousands of other people are using the same network. Even with a strong 5G signal, everything slows to a crawl. The icon remains, but the network is too congested to deliver top speeds.

Your Phone is Trying to Save Battery

Modern smartphones are obsessed with preserving battery life. Constantly maintaining a high-speed 5G connection is a major power drain. To solve this, phone makers use a feature often called "5G Auto" or "Smart 5G." Your phone will show the 5G icon to let you know it's available, but it will cleverly use the more efficient 4G network for basic tasks like checking emails or light scrolling. The moment you do something that needs speed—like starting a Netflix download or running a speed test—it will instantly switch to full 5G power. It's a smart system, but it can make you feel like your 5G isn't "on" all the time.

You're Seeing "Fake" 5G (5GE)

A few years ago, some carriers (notably AT&T in the US) began using a "5GE" icon. This stood for "5G Evolution," but it was just a faster, more advanced version of their 4G LTE network. It caused a lot of confusion and set unrealistic expectations. While this is less of a problem in the UK, it's a good example of how the icon on the screen can sometimes be more about marketing than actual network technology.

How to Make My Phone Get 5G?

Okay, let's get this figured out. If you feel there's simply no 5G on your phone, you can try a few easy fixes right now. Walking through these steps will help you troubleshoot why your phone not connecting to 5G.

Step 1: Verify 5G Coverage

This is the most important first step. It will happen that you have a 5G phone but no 5G coverage. In the UK, major carriers like EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three all have public coverage maps on their websites. Search for "[Your Carrier Name] 5G coverage map" online. These maps let you enter your postcode to see if you're in a service area. Pay attention to the map's key—some will even show the difference between indoor and outdoor coverage. If the map shows no 5G where you are, then that's the simple answer to "why is my 5G phone not getting 5G".

Step 2: Confirm 5G Compatibility

For 5G to work, three things need to be right: your phone, your SIM card, and your plan.

● Your Phone: It must be a 5G-capable model. You can usually find the model name in your phone's settings under "About Phone." A quick online search for that model name will tell you if it supports 5G.

● Your Plan: Not all mobile plans include 5G access, especially older ones. Log in to your carrier's app or website and check the details of your plan. This is often the hidden reason why you do not have 5G on your phone.

● Your SIM: In some rare cases, a very old SIM card might not be provisioned for 5G. If your phone and plan are correct, you could consider asking your carrier for a new SIM.

Step 3: Update System Software

This is a bigger deal than most people think. When you get a system update, it often includes crucial updates for the modem inside your phone. These "carrier settings updates" teach your phone how to talk to the network more efficiently. If you've been ignoring update notifications, you could be missing a vital patch that improves 5G connectivity. Go to Settings > General > Software Update (on iOS) or Settings > System > System update (on Android) and install any pending updates.

Step 4: Optimize Cellular Settings

Your phone gives you control over how it uses 5G. Sometimes, the default setting isn't what you want.

● On an iOS Device: Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data. You'll see 5G On, 5G Auto, and LTE. If it's on 5G Auto, try switching to 5G On to force it to use 5G whenever possible.

● On an Android Device: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Preferred network type. Ensure an option with 5G is selected.

Quick heads-up: forcing "5G On" can drain your battery fast. It makes your phone stick to 5G, even when the signal is weak, causing it to drop in and out and waste even more battery as it keeps searching. That's often why your phone keeps going to 5G, then loses it.

For most people, "5G Auto" is the smarter choice. It lets your phone switch between 5G and LTE depending on what's stronger, giving you better battery life and a more stable connection.

Step 5: Test Network Reset Options

If nothing else has worked, you can try a reset.

● Simple Reset: First, just restart your phone. The second simple trick is to toggle Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds and then off again. This forces your phone to establish a fresh connection to the network.

● Full Network Reset: This is a more drastic step, but it's very effective. On iOS Device, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. On Android, it's usually in Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.

Warning: This will erase all saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth connections, so you'll have to set them up again.

Conclusion

So if your phone says 5G but doesn't feel like it, don't panic—it's usually about coverage, settings, or how your phone manages battery life, not a hardware issue. With a few simple checks and tweaks, you can get the most out of your connection. And if you're ready for a smoother, smarter 5G experience, consider upgrading to a HONOR 5G phone—built to keep you connected, fast and reliable.

FAQs

How to switch from 5G to LTE?

It's easy. Go into your phone's cellular settings (Settings > Cellular > Voice & Data on iPhone or Settings > Network & Internet > Preferred network type on Android) and simply select LTE (or 4G). This is a great trick to extend your battery life significantly when you're out for a long day.

Should my 5G be on or off?

For 99% of people, the default "5G Auto" setting is perfect. It gives you speed when you need it and saves battery when you don't. Only choose "5G On" if you're in a strong signal area and are about to download a large file, and you don't mind the battery hit.

How do I know if I'm actually getting 5G speeds?

The icon isn't enough proof. Download a speed test app like Speedtest by Ookla and run a test. A good 4G connection is typically 30-100 Mbps. Mid-band 5G should be noticeably faster, often in the 150-500 Mbps range or even higher. If your results are in the 4G range, you're likely on a congested or Low-Band 5G network.

Why does my phone say 4G instead of 5G?

This typically occurs when you're on the edge of 5G coverage areas. Your phone switches to the strongest available signal, which might alternate between networks as you move or as network conditions change.

Do I need to update my phone's software to use 5G?

Yes, absolutely. These updates contain critical firmware for your phone's modem—the part that communicates with the cell towers. An update can fix bugs, improve efficiency, and even enable your phone to connect to new types of 5G networks that your carrier has just launched. Always keep your phone updated.

Source: HONOR Club